Fuel dispenser with fraud resistant flow control valve

Abstract

A flow control valve is provided including a valve aperture in a valve body configured to convey fuel from an inlet to an outlet, a valve element configured to close the valve aperture to block flow of the fuel, a valve actuator configured to shift the position of the valve element between a closed position and an open position, and an antifraud circuit. The antifraud circuit is configured to receive a signal to open the flow control valve, determine if the signal is legitimate based on a signal characteristic, cause the flow control valve to shift to the open position in response to determining that the signal is legitimate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flow control valve comprising:
 a valve aperture in a valve body configured to convey fuel from an inlet to an outlet; 
 a valve element configured to close the valve aperture to block flow of the fuel; 
 a valve actuator configured to shift the position of the valve element between a closed position and an open position, the valve actuator being in the form of a solenoid having a movable element surrounded by a magnetic coil; and 
 an antifraud circuit configured to:
 receive an actuation signal to open the flow control valve; 
 determine if the actuation signal is legitimate or not legitimate based on a signal characteristic with the magnetic coil in a consistent position; and 
 cause the flow control valve to shift to the open position in response to determining that the actuation signal is legitimate. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the antifraud circuit is further configured to:
 cause the flow control valve to remain in the closed position in response to determining that the actuation signal is not legitimate. 
 
     
     
       3. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the signal characteristic is based on signal modulation. 
     
     
       4. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein a legitimate actuation signal to open the flow control valve is pulse width modulated. 
     
     
       5. The flow control valve of  claim 4 , wherein the antifraud circuit is integral to a magnetic coil housing. 
     
     
       6. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the antifraud circuit is integral to a flow control valve housing. 
     
     
       7. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein a legitimate actuation signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal. 
     
     
       8. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the antifraud circuit includes processing circuitry configured to:
 compare the actuation signal to a predetermined signal pattern; and 
 cause power to be supplied to the valve actuator in response to the actuation signal matching the predetermined signal pattern. 
 
     
     
       9. The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the antifraud circuit includes processing circuitry configured to:
 authenticate the actuation signal based on cryptographic data.